BOCOG releases pre-Games Legacy Report on Olympic Day

BEIJING -- The organizing committee for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG) on Wednesday released the bilingual versions of the Legacy Report for the Games (pre-Games) to mark the International Olympic Day.

The report, launched at BOCOG's headquarters in Shougang Park, summarizes and highlights all essential legacy outcomes and achievements since Beijing's successful candidature in 2015.

BOCOG's Vice President Han Zirong introduced the report at the launching ceremony, highlighting BOCOG's commitment to respect the guidance of the Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm, and at the same time to the mission of hosting a "Green, Inclusive, Open and Clean" Games.

"With a focus on the planning, creation and utilization of Winter Olympics legacies in 35 areas of the seven dimensions of sports, economy, society, culture, environment, urban development and regional development, we strive to leave valuable assets for the host cities, and achieve a win-win situation between the Olympic Movement and city development," said Han in her opening remarks.

The Legacy Report outlines the pre-Games legacies achieved by Beijing 2022 in 13 chapters, including the popularization and development of winter sports, urban transformation and upgrade, and regional transformation (Beijing- Zhang Jiakou Region) contributions to poverty alleviation.

Specifically, for the winter sports popularization program, a record 224 million Chinese people participated in ski and skating activities during the 2018/19 winter season, approaching its objective of involving 300 million Chinese people in winter sports.

In terms of regional transformation, the Yanqing competition zone will be transformed into resorts for winter sports, leisure and tourism. The Zhangjiakou competition zone will become a winter entertainment and summer holiday resort for the public after the Games.

For urban upgrade and post-games sustainability, BOCOG has renovated and upgraded six venues from Beijing 2008 Games venue legacies to accommodate winter sports, all permanent venues have a sporting and social legacy plan for post-games usage.

Chairman of the Coordination Committee of the IOC for Beijing 2022, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, also sent his congratulations remotely for the report launch.

"The Olympic Games provides a unique opportunity - and responsibility - to create long-lasting benefits for their hosts through sustainable development. The Beijing 2022 Legacy Report shows tangible results in this respect already today."

The report will be followed by a series of other legacy reports and case studies to give a full picture of the Olympic legacies created by the Beijing 2022 Games.